We all sit in the break room sipping coffee. It almost seems like we have rewound time, but there are so many things that keep us grounded in today. Catherine looks at pictures of Holly and Grace. Nick and Sara's daughter had curly brown hair just like her mother. Holly's eyes were that of Nick's. They were so deep and introspective. Catherine asks Sara if she likes being a mother. Sara replies that it is the best job on Earth. Sara has grown so much. She isn't the emotional, if not obsessed, CSI that I mentor. Sara has become a stable, mature woman.

Warrick and Nick talk about work. Their conversation is so easy . . . like Nick had never left. Warrick talks about going to San Fran to meet Holly. I'm afraid to let Warrick go. I'm afraid that he might fall in love with the city as his colleagues had. I'm not sure if the bright lights would be enough to draw Warrick home.

Catherine says she barely recognizes Greg. He does look so different. He looks so grown up. His hair is neatly groomed. It no longer is composed of multiple hues of browns and blondes. Catherine says that she's proud of Greg . . . he's really come into himself. Greg said it's all his wife's fault. Catherine laughs and says that she would be honored to meet the woman that can handle him. Greg says Emily is a saint. Emily loves children, animals, and life. He says Emily has been a gift . . . a gift he still cannot believe is his. Catherine says that he's lucky.

I feel lost in the moment. I feel the tears spring to my eyes. I quickly excuse myself from the room and retreat to my office.

"It's hard to watch them grow up," Catherine says as she walks into my office . . . opening the door without knocking.

"I never thought they would all leave. I never expected them to be so happy," I replied.

"They have made quite the life for themselves. I'm proud of them. They have grown up so much," Catherine replied as she rested her hands on my shoulders. She gently began to knead the knots out of my shoulders.

"Sometimes I just wish they would come back occasionally . . . just to let us know that they are okay," I replied.

"Spoken like a father, Grissom," Catherine teased.

"I suppose so. Does that make us empty-nesters?" I asked.

"We still have Warrick. Sometimes, I don't think he'll ever leave," Catherine replied laughing . . . in turn making me laugh, "It's okay to still worry about them. It's okay to miss them. I know I do . . . I miss them a lot."

"Do you ever feel like you are stuck in reverse?" I asked.

"I feel like I'm not charging ahead like I did my first day in the lab. Part of growing old must be growing conservative," Catherine replied, "Face it . . . we aren't as young as they are. Lindsey reminds me of that every day."

"Did you know about their wedding?" I asked.

"Only Warrick did. Sara didn't want to hurt you. She left on really bad terms," Catherine replied, "I heard about the wedding after the fact . . . I didn't know about Holly. Grissom, she didn't do this to hurt you. Sara wanted to stop hurting you."

"It would have been nice to see the wedding . . . to see her and Nick," I replied.

"I know, but it wasn't the right time. The wounds are only beginning to heal," Catherine replied.

"So what do two empty-nesters do to stay sane?" I asked.

"Sex is supposed to get better once the kids leave the house," Catherine replied with a wink.


They left one week later. Sara and Nick promised to come visit . . . Greg said he'd call. I drove them to the airport. We all exchanged good byes. I watched the planes take off from the parking garage. I wondered what plane they were on. The tears flowed down my face. I waved at the one plane that I believed was theirs.

Our seven days together were refreshing. It was nice to walk into the lab and see Greg messing around with machines that I had no idea how to use. It was nice to see Sara and Nick trying to replicate blood spatter patterns. Everything felt at ease. The days flew by so quickly.

The next time I would see everyone together in one room would be at Jim Brass' funeral four years after our last time together. I called Nick to tell him that Jim was shot by a suspect that came back to the scene. He was shocked. Sara, Nick, and Greg sent flowers. I called a few hours later to let them know that Jim died on the operating room table. I asked if someone from San Francisco could come to Vegas to do an autopsy and collect some evidence. Sara sent her medical examiner and CSI four on the next flight to Vegas. Nick, Sara, and Greg came to Vegas three days later for the funeral.

Sara was pregnant . . . her once flat stomach was greatly distended. She looked beautiful. She glowed. Sara said that she was ready to enter her third trimester. She said that it was all downhill from that point on. Nick echoed that sentiment. Holly and Nick were excited to meet the baby. The baby was going to be the boy that he had been wishing for. Nick said that Holly wanted a baby brother. Sara said that Holly really wanted a doll that she could dress up and drag around.

Greg came with Emily. She was also heavily pregnant. This was going to be their third child. Emily teased Sara for not keeping up. Their daughters were at home with Emily's mother. Grace and Ellie were eagerly awaiting a new baby sister. Greg said that he lived in the estrogen capital of the world. He smiled the whole time he talked about his family. He said he was looking forward to the arrival of Lily. Emily said that she was looking forward to the arrival of their first minivan.

We spent the evening talking. Warrick go to feel Nick's son kick. Sara said she was used to how much attention her stomach was getting. Sara said that their son better be a soccer player or a football player. Both Nick and Warrick said that they wanted him to be a football player. Sara let me feel her son kick her stomach. Emily and Sara tossed around names; Warrick and Nick vetoed most of the names. Greg went out to get ice cream for the girls. Emily kissed his wedding band . . . said that she would be waiting. He returned with green ice cream for Emily and chocolate for Sara. Nick said Sara ate disgusting food. Sara recounted tails of Nick not eating his daughter's birthday cake. Last year, Sara and Holly put a birthday candle in his steak. I laughed so hard that I almost fell over.

I watched another plane leave. This time Sara and Nick asked us to come to San Francisco to meet their family in a few months. Nick said that he and Sara would be honored if Warrick and I could be god-father's to his son. Their son was born four months later . . . they named him Conner. Warrick, Catherine, and I were there for the baptismal. I got to meet Holly . . . she did have an uncanny likeness to Holly Gribbs. Holly had some serious attitude . . . she was a darling, determined girl . . . just like her mother. Catherine and I watched Holly, Grace, Ellie, and Lily while the 'kids' went out to lunch. I had never held a baby in my adult life. I never knew how amazing it was. Warrick, Catherine, and I left San Francisco wishing that we could go back soon.

Catherine was right about embracing the time spent with 'the kids.' Catherine was also right about the sex only getting better.

FIN